nicholas eckhakdt



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet'. 2.

N. EGKHABDT 8v N. ECKHARDT, Jr.

HORSE ICE CREEPBR.

No. 581,543. Patented Apr. 27,1897.

TH: wams PETERS co.. P'uoaumo.. wnsumsmvu. o. c:

UNITED STATES EEicE.

PATENT NICHOLAS ECKHARDT AND NICHOLAS ECKHARDT, JR., OF WASHINGTON,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

HORSE ICE-CREEPER.

SPECIFICATION fOImng part 0f Letters Patent N0. 581,543, dated April 27, 1897. Application tiled February 15, 1897. Serial No. 623,466 (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Bet known that we, NICHOLAS ECKHARDT, and NICHOLAS ECKHARDT, Jr., citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse Ice-Creepers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specication.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple adjustable attachment which can be quickly attached to a horses foot by any inexperienced person without the use of wrenches or any device outside of the shoe itself and which can be applied to any shoe no matter how worn it may be or whether it already has heels and toes or old calks which have become useless or whether it be a perfectly iiat shoe.

To that end our invention consists of two separate twin shells, the rear ends of which are so constructed that they fit over the rear ends or heels of the ordinary shoe and are fastened in front with a strap and buckle, said shells being provided on their under sides with calks.

IVe will now describe the manner in which we have carried out our invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows a side view of the device as attached to the foot. Fig. 2 is a front view of same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing general appearance of the dev-ice as applied to the foot. Fig. 4 is a top View in position upon the shoe. Fig. 5 is an under side view of same, showing position of calks and manner of avoiding the heels and toes of thel ordinary shoes. Fig. 6 is an inside view of one of the shells. Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line y y of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a section of one of the calks. Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line o o of Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a similar section taken on the line Qc of Fig. 4, showing a portion of the hoof. Figs. 1l, 12, 13, and 14 are views showing a modification of the method of applying the calks to the shells.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the hoof of a horse, and b the ordinary shoe, secured thereto in the usual manner.

Our device comprises two duplicate shells, one of which is shown in Fig. 6 and is constructed of a base-plate d, provided at one edge with an upright iiange i, said iiange being extended beyond the ends of the baseplate. The base-plate is also provided on its inner rear edge with a flange j, which also extends beyond the end of the base-plate, and the ends of flanges j and t' are connected by the beveled cross-piece p, thus leaving an opening q, through which the heel-call; of the shoe passes. The flanget' gradually increases in height from the rear of the shell to the front thereof and is provided witha raised portion 71., said portion -being provided with an opening ofor the reception of the strap n. The forward part of the iiange 1l thus serves as a protection to the hoof from contact with sharp pieces of ice, while at the same time the fastenin g mechanism is raised sufficiently above the base of the shoe as to be effectuall y guarded against injury.

n To the under side of the base-plate d are secured the calks g, said calks being either formed integral with the base-plate, as shown in Fig. 9, or made separate and riveted in the base-plate, as shown in Fig. 8. Where the calks are riveted to the base-plate, said plate y is provided with a boss e in order-to strengthen the connection between the plate and the calk.

The shells can be secured together by any fastening means, although we prefer to use a strap n and buckle m. By using a strap and buckle the shells can be easily tightened in case they work loose, and, furthermore, do not require the use of a wrench or other impleurent.

By tightening the strap n, the bevel-platep is always drawn tight against the point r of the shoe, thereby keeping the plate d in contact with the shoe, thus securing a firm and solid support for the foot. V

The base-plates of the shells are cut away in front, so as not to interfere with the toecalk of the shoe.

The device can be easily adjusted to differ` IOO ent-sized shoes by simply tightening or loosening the strap, no matter what the thickness of the shoe may be.

It is immaterial whether the shoe is provided with calks or not, as the bevel cross-piece always bears against the heel of the shoe and tends to draw the shell tighter to the shoe.

Referring to Figs. 1l, l2, 13, and 14, which disclose a modification of the means for applying the calks to the shells, d represents the base-plate of a shell, said plate being provided with openings n and w.

In Fig. l1, s represents a plate shaped to conform to the base-plate d', said plate being provided with the calks t, formedy integral therewith, and with one or more retaining or strengthening lugs a. In use the plate s rests upon the base-plate d', the calks t passing through the openings u and the retaining or strengthening lugs passing through the openings w.

Vhen the device is constructed as disclosed in Figs. 1l, l2, 13, and 14, the shells can be made of one kind of metal and the plate can be made of a harder metal.

In some instances it may be found desirable to interpose a packing fg, of rubber or leather, as shown in Fig. la, between the shoe and the base-plate of the shell in order to prevent noise. Said packing is to be secured tothe shells in any manner.

One of the principal features of our device is that it does away with screws or bolts and all necessary accessories thereto, while it retains all the advantageous features. Moreover, where screws or bolts are employed they are liable to rust. Especially is this so where they are employed underneath the foot t0 secure the clips or Creepers to the shoe. Furthermore, where the fastening means is placed beneath the foot it is more liable to injury, and also becomes so clogged with snow, ice, and dirt that it is very difficult to remove the creepers.

We do not desire to limit ourselves to the details of construction herein shown and de* scribed, but reserve to ourselves the right to make such changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction as may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

IIaving fully disclosed our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Iletters Patent, is-

1. As an article of manufacture, an icecreeper shell, carrying calks, and provided near its rear end with an opening through which the heel-calk of the shoe is adapted to pass, and with a lug or flange adapted to embrace the heelcalk, substantially as de scribed.

2. As an article of manufacture, an icecreeper shell carrying detachable calks, and provided near its rear end with au opening through which the heel-call; of the shoe is adapted to pass, and with a lug or flange adapted to embrace the heel-calk, substantially as described.

3. As an article of manufacture, an icecreeper shell provided with calli-openings in its base, and at its rear end with an opening through which the heel-calk of the shoe is adapted to pass, and with a lug or {ia-nge adapted to embrace the heelecalk, and a plate provided with calks, which calks are adapted to pass through the openings in the base-plate, substantially as described.

4. In an ice-Creeper, the combination of twin shells provided with calks and having openings in their rear ends through which the heel-calks of the shoe are adapted to pass, and means for securing the shells together, substantially as described.

5. In an ice-Creeper, the combination of twin shells, provided with detachable calks, openings in the rear ends of said shells through which the heel-calks of the shoe are adapted to pass, and means for securing the shells together, substantially as described.

6. In an ice-Creeper, the combination of twin shells, provided with calks, and having openings in their rear ends through which the heel-calks of the shoe are adapted to pass,

lugs or flanges adapted to embrace the heels of the shoes, and means for securing the shells together, substantially as described.

7. In an ice-creeper,4 the combination of twin shells provided with calks, and having openings in their rear ends through which the heel-calks ofthe shoe are adapted to pass, beveled iianges or lugs adapted to embrace the heels of the shoe, and means for securing the shells together, substantially as described.

S. In an ice-creeper, the combination of twin shells, openings in t-he base-plates of the shells, openings in the rear ends of the shells through which the heelcalks of the shoe are adapted to pass, a plate provided with calks, which calks are adapted to pass through the openings in the base-plate, and means for securing the shells together, substantially as described.

9. In an ice-creeper, the combination of twin shells, openings in the baseplates of the shells, openings in the rear ends of the shells through which the heel-calks of the shoe are adapted to pass, lugs or flanges adapted to embrace the heels of the shoes, a plate provided with calks, which calks are adapted to pass through the openings in the baseplates and means for securing the shells together, substantially as described.

10. In an ice-creeper, the combination of twin shells, provided with calks, the vertical walls of said shells increasing in height and conforming to the hoof from the rear to the front, openings in the rear ends of said shells through which the heel-calks of the shoe are adapted to pass and means for securing the shells together, substantially as described.

1l. In an ice-creeper, the combination of twin shells provided with calks, and having IOO . openings in their rear ends through which the names to this specification in the presence of heel-oalks are adapted to pass, lugs or zmges two subscribing Witnesses. adapted to embrace the heels of the shoes, 'i f paokings secured to the upper surface of the JR 5 base-plates of the shells, and means for se- I curing the shells together, substantially as Witnesses: described. DANIEL N. KLAPP,

In testimony whereof We have signed our F. T. J. MURPHY. 

